Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight Expected to Become Tropical Storm Helena Soon, Flooding Rains and Strong Gusty Winds Impacts Expected Here Monday

The low pressure system off the Carolina coast continued to transition to a tropical storm this evening, and the new 11 pm advisory from the National Hurricane Center says they expect it to be tropical storm by Monday morning. Once declared a tropical storm, it will be Tropical Storm Helena. Here is the latest satellite loop and official forecast track as of the 11 pm advisory.

The latest official track brings the center of the storm right across the Grand Strand and Pee Dee later tomorrow and tomorrow night. Right now maximum sustained winds are 45 mph. Some strengthening is possible tonight and tomorrow.

For Dillon, Marion and Marlboro counties expect frequent showers and thunderstorms Monday into Monday night. A flood watch is in effect. Rain amounts of 3 to 6 inches are expected and travel tomorrow into tomorrow night could be difficult with locally flooded roads. Winds will gust between 35 and 45 mph. With high pressure to out north and the tropical storm expeceted to strengthen a bit before landfall I'll have to watch for these to be a bit higher. Some computer projections are going for gusts higher than this forecast, so I'll take a fresh look at that tomorrow morning. It wouldn't be surprising to see some scattered power outages with this storm track.

Since this storm is developing and intensifying just before landfall, there is a larger degree of uncertainty in the forecast. Be sure to stay up to date with changes, as well as with local watches and warnings.